UN Habitat, 2012

1. JOIN
THE WORLD
URBAN
CAMPAIGN
—
BETTER CITY,
BETTER LIFE
1

2. JOIN
THE WORLD
URBAN
CAMPAIGN
—
2

3. The second and third decades of the
21st Century will be an unprecedented
moment in human history when the global
population moves from 50% urban today
to 70% urban in little over a generation
from now. Arguably the greatest challenge
facing humanity, a collaborative, sustainable
approach to all aspects of this rapid
urbanization is needed.
The World Urban Campaign provides the
necessary environment for collaboration.
Coordinated by UN-Habitat, but owned and
driven by a long list of committed partners,
the Campaign is your opportunity to become
part of the urban solution - yes, join the
partnership today.
Working together, urban communities
– those living and working in towns and
cities, and those who have an impact on
development – can set precedents, develop
tools and offer policy options to achieve
resilient and sustainable urban communities
by engaging partners in a global movement
of public, private and social sectors
worldwide.
Cities are the greatest legacy of humanity.
We need to nurture them carefully.
www.worldurbancampaign.org
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4. “WE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE GENIUS,
CREATIVITY AND AUDACITY
OF PEOPLE
AND DECISION-MAKERS
TO MAKE THE WISEST
CHOICES FOR OUR
URBAN FUTURE.
THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF THE
WORLD URBAN CAMPAIGN”.
JOAN CLOS
United Nations Under-Secretary-General
Executive Director of UN-Habitat
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5. The 21st The second and third decades of the
21st century will see an irreversible
population live in these conditions and
if populations continue to grow by 2020
Century Urban and historically unprecedented
phenomenon. Half of the world’s
it is estimated that 889 million people
will live in slums. The percentage of
Challenge population currently lives in cities, a
figure that will reach 60% by 2030 and
populations living in these conditions is
higher in some regions, such as in Sub-
70% by 2050. The number of cities Saharan Africa, where 6 out of 10 urban
with more than 1 million inhabitants resident are living in slums. Many such
has exploded to over 450, more than slums are squatter settlements comprised
20 of which are ‘megacities,’ with a of improvised dwellings, characterized
population of more than 10 million. by an absence of any formal urban
planning and disconnected from the
Much of this urbanization is taking place city’s infrastructure. Lacking necessary
in developing nations and is changing resources and policy priorities, most city
the physical and demographic face of governments are often ill-equipped to
our world. In 1950, developing nations meet the demands of rapid urbanization
accounted for less than 40% of the and the needs of urban futures.
world’s urban population. By 2005 that
figure reached 70%. It is projected The prevalent global standard
that urban population in developing urbanization model has produced
nations will continue to grow reaching unbalanced densities, segregation,
80% by 2030. By 2050, 93% of the poverty and environmental
urban population growth will occur in degradation. It has missed the
developing countries. These escalating economic advantages offered by
figures set the stage for our priorities in economies of agglomeration, while
order to build a sustainable urban future. loosing the sense of conviviality that
the street and public space could
This age of urban dominance and generate. It has isolated a large part
economic globalization has produced of the population in slums and sub-
patterns of growth and development standard suburbs, against the formal
that simultaneously provide dynamic city and its gated communities that
opportunities and pose imperative increasingly require surveillance
challenges. and control. The unexpected
consequences of this unsustainable
One of the major challenges faced by model include the increasing cost of
cities today is the growing number of living in cities, unemployment, high
urban dwellers living in slum conditions. energy consumption and negative
About one third of the world urban environmental impacts.
The prevalent global standard
urbanization model generates
segregation, poverty and
environmental degradation
in most parts of the World.
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6. The positive The urban transition may pose
complex challenges for a shared,
Cities also offer the best climate
change solutions. A compact, densely
role of cities sustainable future. Yet cities provide
the answers to these challenges and
populated and well-planned city
generates lower emissions and
are the drivers of their solutions. Cities consumes less energy per capita than
themselves are the greatest asset in sprawling and dispersed urban districts.
promoting and pursuing sustainable
development. The quality of a city’s urban fabric has
significant implications for ecologically
Urbanization and urban density sustainable development given that
bring value. In a compact and well- buildings account for 30% of all
planned city, investments in urban greenhouse gas emissions. Of equal
infrastructure will reach more importance, a densely populated, well-
recipients and yield more per-dollar planned city offers the opportunity
benefit than in rural contexts. A for inclusive governance, which is
compact city offers businesses a fundamental to sustainable urban
comparative advantage in terms of development.
competitiveness and employment.
Poor and disadvantaged people The urban agenda must necessarily
living in cities are more likely to be recognize, promote and capitalize on
lifted out of poverty than their rural this positive role of cities as drivers of
counterparts. solutions.
Buenos Aires, Argentina © João Monteiro
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7. Raising the How we plan, build and manage
our cities now will determine the
This is the essence of the World Urban
Campaign: engaging the public at
urban agenda outcome of our efforts to achieve
more sustainable and harmonious
large, the civil society, the business
sector, the research community and
development tomorrow. Addressing governments in a global movement
the challenges of our urban future, and that elevates the urban agenda
harnessing the city as an asset, requires through a positive vision and
the commitment of all as city changers understanding of the tremendous
for a better urban future. benefits cities can bring to future
generations.
But cities cannot address all these
challenges alone. The urban agenda The World Urban Campaign is a global
has to be set as part of national partnership designed to promote
government policy. a positive vision for sustainable
urbanization and place the urban
Elevating the urban agenda and agenda at the highest level in
dealing with the fastest urbanization development policies. Its mission is to
rates in history are challenges which achieve these objectives by engaging
will require new, innovative ways of and mobilizing partners around the
thinking, new levels of understanding, world from every walk of life.
and most importantly, new
partnerships.
Engaging the public at large,
the civil society, the business
sector, the research community
and governments in a global
movement is the essence of the
World Urban Campaign.
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8. Shanghai, China © UN-Habitat / Julius Mwelu
8

9. Campaign The Campaign offers a broad platform
to raise the urban agenda, improve
goals policies at national level, and raise
awareness for sustainable urbanization.
Coordinated by UN-Habitat, but owned
and driven by our valued partners, the
Campaign has these goals:
1 2
TO UNITE TO CONNECT
convince public, private and social sectors create lasting linkages among all
that investing in creative, resilient and city changers and facilitate the
sustainable cities and communities are coherent and strategic coordination
essential to our shared future. of partners.
3 4
TO ENABLE TO MEASURE
provide the means to achieve creative, establish benchmarks, monitor
resilient and sustainable cities and progress and share knowledge
communities. worldwide.
The success of the World Urban
Campaign will be measured by the
presence and enactment of more
policies promoting sustainable urban
development at the national level.
9

10. The road The World Urban Campaign is guided
by seven key principles*:
to success
1 2
Accessible and pro-poor land, Socially inclusive, gender
infrastructure, services, mobility sensitive, healthy and safe
and housing. development.
3 4
Environmentally sound Participatory planning and
and carbon-efficient built decision making.
environment.
5 6
Vibrant and competitive local Assurance of non-discrimination
economies promoting decent and equal rights to the city.
work and livelihoods.
7
Empowering cities and
communities to plan for and
effectively manage adversity
and change.
* The World Urban Campaign principles have been approved by the World Urban Campaign Steering
Committee at its second session in Paris on 9 December 2009.
10

11. Towards The World Urban Campaign’s thematic
areas are:
A Safe and Healthy City —
Make cities livable places.
an Equitable, A Resilient City— Prepare cities for
Cities hold the answers to challenges
posed by urbanization, which are in
Prosperous change, managing adversity, resilience
and take action to reduce risk.
turn inextricably linked to issues of
and agendas concerning the economy,
and Urbanization and development can only
be sustainable if it is adaptable to future
climate change, resource consumption,
food security and more. Cities need
Sustainable demands and risks, and is resilient to
the consequences of climate change or
to be highly livable environments in
order to capitalize on their tremendous
City for the natural disasters. Empowering cities and
communities to plan for and effectively
potential as the drivers of sustainable
solutions to our current and future
21st century manage adversity is fundamental to the
urban agenda.
challenges.
An Inclusive City — Build socially
A Green City — Build environmen- inclusive, accessible, pro-poor,
tally sound and carbon efficient cities. equitable and gender sensitive cities.
Buildings alone account for 30% of Socially equitable development is one
greenhouse gas emissions, and the of the three pillars of sustainability, and
way we plan and design our cities now is vital to creating a shared, sustainable
will have significant implications for urban future. The challenges posed by
how resilient, resource efficient and the pace and scale of contemporary
environmentally sound they are in the urbanization require us to invest
future. A green city means promoting in infrastructure, development and
sustainable development through a political processes that promote
carbon efficient built environment. inclusivity, and a pro-poor, gender
sensitive agenda. An inclusive city
promotes equitable rights to the city
and therefore allows all citizens to
partake of the urban advantage.
A A Planned City — Plan the cities
of tomorrow for sustainable decision-
RESILIENT
making processes.
CITY
Sustainable urbanization and
development requires planning
A
A processes and political frameworks
SAFE AND
GREEN that harness the city’s assets and
HEALTHY
CITY potential. Sustainable planning
CITY
entails participatory decision making
processes and particular attention
SUSTAINABLE to development that balances social,
URBAN environmental and economic needs. Of
DEVELOPMENT equal importance, sustainable planning
and a planned city are fundamental to
AN A achieving the characteristics of all other
INCLUSIVE PLANNED World Urban Campaign thematic areas.
CITY CITY
A Productive City — Make cities
more efficient and better places to
ensure decent work. Economically
A
equitable development is also one of
PRODUCTIVE
the three pillars of sustainability, and
CITY
a requisite component of any healthy,
livable and sustainable city. Pursuing
a sustainable development agenda
means planning cities that promote and
foster livelihoods for all citizens through
economic opportunities.
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12. Kibera slum, Nairobi, Kenya © UN-Habitat
12

13. Campaign Taking the slogan to unite to heart, our
valued partners in the World Urban Cam-
Media partners to spread the mes-
sage. Telling the stories of what works
partners paign include a balanced mix of public,
private sector and community represen-
best and what doesn’t, the media are cru-
cial, indispensible partners for advancing
tatives. They are also a balanced mix of and disseminating the urban agenda.
people from the global north and south.
THE PARTNERS
Political Partners representing local — Arcadis
governments, communities, and national — Building and Wood Workers
governments. Local governments and — International
parliamentarians are responsible for — Commonwealth Association of
pursuing sustainable development policies Planners
at the urban and regional scale, as well as — Cordaid
inclusive governance measures sensitive to — CRECC
the needs of their constituencies. National — DCity
governments must necessarily support — ENDA RUP
policy frameworks that elevate the urban — GDF SUEZ
agenda and bolster local government — Global Parliamentarians on Habitat
efforts to pursue sustainable urbanization. — Global Urban Development
— Green World City Organisation
Civil Society Partners are — Habitat for Humanity
indispensible partners for advancing — Habitat Partner Universities
and disseminating the urban agenda. — Habitat Professionals Forum
Community-based and civil society — Huairou Commission
organisations utilize innovative solutions — IAU lIe de France
for helping the urban poor and — International Union of Architects (UIA)
promoting sustainable development. — Isocarp
Many have developed effective ways — Josslyn Institute of Sustainable
of collaborating with their national Communities
governments and municipalities to — Metropolis
advance the urban agenda and the — Penn Institute for Urban Research of
needs of their constituents. the University of Pennsylvania
— Practical Action
Business partners vital to the pursuit — Siemens · Siemens Stiftung
of sustainable urban development, they — UNISDR
are well honed to address the challenges — United Cities and Local Governments
of our urban future and can utilize its — University of Napoli
dynamism, adaptability and ingenuity — UPSAB
to harness the benefits and tremendous — Veolia Environnement
potential of cities. Philanthropic — WBCSD
foundations and development banks and — World Future Council
agencies are critical partners as well by — Zerofootprint
providing and mobilizing the resources
to turn intention into intervention.
Other partners and members are listed
Expert partners from the academic on the World Urban Campaign website:
world and researchers generate vital www.worldurbancampaign.org
contributions and fresh ideas for
dealing with the fast evolving urban
agenda. The World Urban Campaign
recognizes that professionals from a
broad range of human settlements and
sustainability related fields bring key
expertise and experience requisite for
delivering sustainable urbanization
at scale. Researchers and academia
generate vital contributions and
normative solutions for progressing and
evolving the urban agenda.
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14. How can There are many ways you can become a
partner depending on your preferences the products of the campaign for
I join? and capabilities: educational, training and advocacy
purposes.
project in your city or community that
you feel deserves international attention, determining policies and priorities
and would be useful to others. of the campaign together with other
partners.
people and communities are dealing with
issues that you have in your community. of any of the above.
network and coalition dedicated to
policy debate and policy development.
1 2
AS AN AS AN
INDIVIDUAL, ORGANISATION,
be a City Changer be a Member/Partner/Sponsor of
the World Urban Campaign
3 4
AS A CITY, AS A COUNTRY,
be part of the 100 Cities launch your National Urban
Campaign
Join us:
www.worldurbancampaign.org
14

15. Join as a I’M A CITY CHANGER is an initiative to
raise awareness on positive actions that
I’M A CITY CHANGER awareness
campaigns
City Changer have demonstrated impacts on people’s
lives in urban areas and improve the
City Changers join for better cities
in city-level campaigns engaging the
livability of cities. general public and demonstrating the
value of attitudes and practices towards
I’M A CITY CHANGER shall serve as a improving the livability of cities.
conduit for the World Urban Campaign Those city-level campaigns shall be
to raise awareness on fundamental issues able to convey to each and every
and campaigning on our urban future, citizen, young and elderly, men and
our cities, each and everyone’s city. women, that changes in consumption,
technology use, life styles and attitudes
I’M A CITY CHANGER awareness can dramatically improve our quality of
campaigns in cities and special events life and impact on the livability of cities
shall trigger a global movement putting in the future generations.
cities at the heart of solutions to ensure
a harmonious future for ourselves and Communications resources
generations to come. City Changer e-magazine: an electronic
magazine to disseminate key
City Changers messages, experiences and practices
that demonstrate positive changes in
Neighborhood on key issues to achieve improving the livability of cities.
positive impacts towards better cities. City Changer website: a dynamic web
platform for interaction between city
other cities in order to contribute to changers.
further change City Changer social media: 2.0
platforms for everyday interaction
Successful City Changers between networks and city changers.
demonstrate positive changes towards:
www.imacitychanger.org
© iStock
15

16. Istanbul, Turkey © UN-Habitat
16

17. Sign up to the You are a non-governmental organi-
sation, a community-based organisa-
Sponsors provide cash contributions
to the Campaign for core Campaign
World Urban tion, a research institution, a foundation,
a private sector company, a university…
activities. They also participate in
key decisions as members of the
Campaign you can engage as it suits you: Campaign Steering Committee. They
enjoy higher visibility through the
as a Member Members sign up to the World Urban
Campaign Paris Principles while pro-
Campaign branding, and especially at
the World Urban Forum, where they
or Partner moting the Campaign in their activities
and communication.They are listed on
are also considered World Urban Forum
sponsors.
the Campaign website and main bro-
chures.They enjoy visibility at the World Partners can enjoy various levels of
Urban Forum. status, such as Lead or Sponsoring
partner.
Lead Partners are official partners
of UN-Habitat and are committed to
the World Urban Campaign activities SELECTION PROCESS
through their in-kind contribution To sign on institutions are kindly
to the Campaign’s core activities. asked to contact the Campaign Se-
cretariat. For more details, read the
They are members of the Campaign World Urban Campaign Guidelines
Steering Committee in which they for Partners Engagement. A mem-
participate regularly. They enjoy bership entry form is available from
high visibility through the Campaign www.worldurbancampaign.org
branding, and especially at the World
Urban Forum.
Associate Partners sign up to the
Paris Principles, promote the Campaign
in their activities and communication
and commit through in-kind
contributions to the Campaign’s
core activities. They are listed on the
Campaign website, main brochure,
have their activities mentioned in the
Campaign calendar of events, enjoy
visibility at the World Urban Forum.
Sign up!
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18. Join the Cities join the 100 Cities Initiative of
the World Urban Campaign. The idea
Signing up to the 100 Cities
initiative
100 Cities is that cities interact with one another
in many ways and generate a critical
A Campaign Partner proposes that a
city join the 100 Cities Initiatve. A City
mass of shared knowledge, experiences Champion designated by the Campaign
and practices which can be turned into Partner reports annually on the city’s
positive action. achievements. Cities share their
experiences and best practices through
Cities gather in 100 Cities interactive learning events and by telling their
learning events to share experiences stories.
and practices, and turn knowledge
into positive action. This knowledge
is consolidated yielding a collection of WUC partner proposes/supports
living practices. the city to become part of the
100 cities.
These demonstrate positive change
towards the green city, the produc-
tive city, the inclusive city, the planned
city, the safe and healthy city and the
resilient city. City champion reports annually
on the city’s achievements.
Living practices are holistic and forward
looking. They provide dynamic learning
opportunities and are organized
around principles of sharing and
structured learning through partnering. Cities share their experiences/
The processes and outcomes of living best practises through learning
practices will be documented, reported events.
and measured over time.
Some of the key benefits accruing to
cities participating in the 100 Cities Communications resources
include: City Changer e-magazine: a bi-monthly
electronic magazine to disseminate key
partners promoting more enabling messages, experiences and practices
policies and leading edge practices in that demonstrate positive changes in
sustainable urban development improving the livability of cities.
international levels as a city or World Urban Campaign and I’m a City
community committed to innovation Changer websites: includes a 100 cities
and change web platform for interaction between
cities and knowledge sharing.
partnerships and models for investment
Events
number of cities and communities 100 Cities Learning Conferences:
engaged in green economic international events bringing together
development opportunities, cities, World Urban Campaign members
technologies and know how and partners, successfull city changers
to share experiences and practices, and
tested tools, methods and approaches turn knowledge into positive action.
for effective urban planning and man-
agement and sustainable and resilient
housing and urban development. www.worldurbancampaign.org/
100cities
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19. Launch Your National Urban Forums
and Advocacy at Country level
of the urban agenda engaging all
partners and mobilizing the media to
National Urban National governments have a vital
role to play in advancing the World
disseminate key messages.
Campaign Urban Campaign. They must support
its policy framework in order to raise
National governments shall catalyze
the engagement of the partners from
high the urban agenda and strengthen civil society, press and media, business
local governments and other partner’s organisations, local authorities, the
efforts to achieve sustainable research and academia through
urbanization. National Urban Forums, which have the
potential to articulate pressing urban
The National Urban Forums issues building on their national urban
are conceived to serve as advocacy agenda.
platforms and vehicles to raise the
profile of urban issues in partner’s National urban campaigns shall
countries. They are meant to: emphasize positive changes in the urban
sector, reward successful initiatives, and
framework for concerted action and encourage all key players to take bold
programmes that address national action for better cities.
urban issues,
Communication resources
at the national level, City Changer e-magazine:
a bi-monthly electronic magazine to
World Urban Forum by mobilizing all disseminate key messages, experiences
concerned national stakeholders and and practices that demonstrate
harmonizing their option in support of positive changes in improving the
the urban agenda. livability of cities.
National Governments are encouraged World Urban Campaign website:
to launch their own National Urban a web platform for interaction and
Campaign using the National Urban knowledge sharing between members
Forum framework in promotion and partners, cities, national urban fora.
Better City, Better Life and
I´m a City Changer, must become
a reality at the national level.
19

20. Haiti © UN-Habitat/Alain Grimard
20

21. How it works Governing Structure
Beyond member and partner
Secretariat’s primary roles are to
monitor, guide and liaise with partners
organisations, the World Urban and committees in order to carry out
Campaign is comprised of several agreed activities, to coordinate the
governing committees under the Campaign’s workplan and events, and
leadership of the UN-Habitat to develop protocols and processes
Executive Director: to match the Campaign’s goals with
partners’ interests. The Secretariat
includes an internal UN-Habitat-
Committee based Task Force to advise
on campaign strategies and
communications activities as well
Committee as support the mainstreaming of
the Campaign throughout the
Committees organisation.
THE CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE THE CAMPAIGN STANDING COMMITTEE
The Steering Committee is the World The Standing Committee is the
Urban Campaign’s governing body Steering Committee’s executive organ
and is comprised of UN-Habitat’s and is comprised of up to 11 partners.
partner organisations. The Steering The Standing Committee sets and
Committee is responsible for approves the Steering Committee’s
establishing the campaign’s goals agenda, reviews progress reports
and objectives, defining the activities and new member applications and
strategies and annual workplan, and approves expenditures.
setting the campaign’s governing
procedures. The Steering Committee THE CAMPAIGN SUB-COMMITTEES
elects its Chair and Co-Chair every The Sub-Committees serve as working
two years. The Steering Committee groups for World Urban Campaign
works closely with the World Urban activities and are comprised of
Campaign Secretariat. Steering Committee members. Sub-
Committees help plan and bolster a
THE CAMPAIGN SECRETARIAT variety of campaign activities such
The World Urban Campaign Secretariat as outreach and communication
is the UN-Habitat team responsible for strategies, business plans and resource
coordinating the Steering Committee mobilization, knowledge sharing and
and monitoring its activities. The capacity building.
UN-HABITAT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WUC STEERING COMMITTEE WUC SECRETARIAT
The WUC governing body: Secretariat of the World Urban Campaign,
coordinating the Steering Committee.
Composition: UN-Habitat team
monitoring organ
Composition: UN-Habitat + Partners
WUC STANDING COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEES
Executive organ of the Steering Committee.
Composition: UN-Habitat + Partners
21

22. World Urban All members promote the World Urban
Campaign and its six thematic areas
Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge Sharing activities include
Campaign in their activities and communication,
and in turn enjoy visibility in the
initiatives bolstered by the work of
Campaign Sub-Committees such as Good
Activities World Urban Campaign website and
materials, and at the World Urban
Policies & Enabling Legislations, Tools
and Methods and general knowledge
Forum. There are three levels of dissemination and capacity building.
Campaign activities that all members
contribute to: Communication
Communication activities disseminate
Awareness Building information about the campaign. These
Awareness Building activities include activities and materials include the City
the I’m a City Changer awareness Changer Magazine, Appeal Material,
campaigns, 100 Cities events and the the World Urban Campaign and the I’m
World Urban Forum. a City Changer website.
It’s time for change.
It’s time for action.
Join the World Urban Campaign.
Become a City Changer.
22

23. Coordinated by
Official Sponsors
Partners
23

24. World Urban Campaign Secretariat
UN-Habitat
Ana B. Moreno
CHIEF, ADVOCACY, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS
Christine Auclair
PROJECT LEADER, WORLD URBAN CAMPAIGN
OUTREACH/EVENTS:
Silvia Ragoss
EDITORIAL:
Roman Rollnick
WEB/PUBLICATIONS:
Victor Mgendi
PRESS AND MEDIA:
Jeanette Elsworth
I’M A CITY CHANGER COMMUNICATION:
Rosa Suriñach
ADMINISTRATION:
Portia Machancoses
Josephine Chege
CONTACT:
EMAIL: wuc@unhabitat.org
TEL.: +254 20 762 4576
© Maxim Blinkov / Shutterstock.com
www.worldurbancampaign.org
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